Combined district-telegraph and electric time system



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. E. BUELL. COMBINED DISTRICT TELEGRAPH AND ELECTRIC? TIME SYSTEM.

No. 251,176. Patented Dec. 20,1881.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. E. BUELL.

COMBINED DISTRICT TELEGRAPH AND ELECTRIC TIME SYSTEM.

No. 251,176. Patented Dec. 20,1881.

I IMI UNTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BUELL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED DISTRICT-TELEGRAPH AND ELECTRIC TIME SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,176, dated December 20, 1881.

Application filed September 29, 1881.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BUELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at- New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Combined District-Telegraph and Electric Time Systems, of which the foL lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined districttelegraph and eleetric-eloe I system, the object being to combine with the lines and signal boxes of an ordinary districttelegraph system and an electric controlling-clock at the main or central station a series of electric clocks at the outlying stations of the system, for the purpose of providing standard time at said stations, and to provide means for operating said clocks and the usual district call-signals over the same lines without interrupting the r; quisite continuity ot'the line required to properly operate the clocks.

1n the drawings torming part of this specification, Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate my invention as follows, viz: Fig. 1 illustrates the circuit-breaking wheel and contact-spring of" an ordinary district-telegraph signal-box connected into the main line of the system, including a clock and a relay-magnet. Fig. 2 illustrates a series of the devices shown in Fig. l, with the addition thereto of a secondary pile at each station, connected into a dezived or branch circuit. Fig. 3 represents the apparatus of a central station arranged to work clocks at outlying stations, and to receive district-telegraph signals from said stations upon the same normally-closed circuits.

In the drawings, A is a district-telegraph signal-box. s is a contact-spring therein. to is the circuit-closing wheel. 1" is a resistancecoil. H is a relay-magnet. L x 00 g 3 are batteries. B represents clocks at outlying stations. 0 c c are derived-circuit wires. e is a contact-point on relay-magnet. D indicates secondary piles. h is the clock at the central station. m is a magnet. B B are call-bells. E indicates a district-oifice register. 1 and 2 are line-wires. 11/ h are shunt-wires.

The signal box A may be of any of thewell known forms. The make-and-break wheelw and the contact-spring s are arranged to interrupt the main-line current when, as said wheel is revolved, the insulated portions thereotpuss under the end of said spring. The lineconstruction, (see Fig. 1,) in addition to said usual connections, I add a conducting resistance consisting of a coil, 1", of German-silver wire or some equivalent element, so that the operation of the signal'box varies the tension of the eireuitwithout interrupting its continuity. In the circuit which includes the signalbox I introduce a relay electro-niagnet, H, with a polarized armature.

An electric clock, B, of any well-known construction, is located conveniently near where box A is placed, and is connected in a local circuit represented by dotted lines in the several figures, and said local circuit (in the arrangeinentrepresentedinFig. 1) may becharged by a battery, L; but by preference I employ the secondary pile I), as illustrated in Fig. 2. The abovenamed relay electro-magnet responds only to reversals of the current charging the circuit, and by its action causes the clock B (included in thelocal circuit) to be operated. The arrangement of said secondary pile in this system is illustra ed in Fig. .,which represents the signal boxes as shown in Fig. I, together with the relay-magnets contained in the main circuit, said secondary pileD preferably being connected in a derived or branch circuit from the main one, where the current charging it is in its normal direction. Said derived circuit is over the wires 0 0 c, armature, and contact-point The current is thus divided, and if the relayand secondary pile are of like resistance one-half of thecurrent flowing over the main line will pass through each, and the secondary pile will become charged to a given strength by changing the direction of the current upon the main line, as will be hereinafter referred to and described. Thus, after pile D shall have become charged the armature of the relay H will assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and the charged secondary pile will be discharged over the sulo-circuit shown by dotted lines, and the clock B, included in said sub-circuit, will be made operative.

Any of the well-known electric clocks which respond to a make and break of the circuit may be used.

This invention provides forworking a series of clocks upon each circuit and for operating several circuits from one controlling-clock at the central station.

A certain method of operating a number of circuits by one controlling-clock for the transmission of standard time is shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued November 1, 1881, No. 248,995; but said method of operation divulged in said patent is no part of the invention herein described.

Fig. 3 shows another mode of reversing the currents upon several circuits by one controlling-clock for the purpose above stated and upon circuits used for district-telegraph signaling. Said Fig. 3 represents the apparatus of a central station arranged to control a series of clocks at outlying stations, as above stated, and to receive district-telegraph signals from said stations upon the same normallyclosed circuits. L nes 1 and 2 are charged respectively by batteries ar y 00 g which are arranged wi: h like poles connected, so that x 3 charge the line 1 in opposite directions, and if both of said batteries were of like force the effect upon the line would be nil,- but an is double the strength of 1 and charges the line with a force equal to y alone.

The clock shown is a pendulum-clock, arranged to open and close the local circuit shown in dotted lines 9 g, Fig. 3, and makes operative the magnet m. When said magnet attracts its armature it closes the shunt-wires h it over its armature and contact 3, short-circuiting the batteries as and x and allowing the batteries y y to exert their force upon the lines 1 and 2, changing the direction of the currents on the lines and making operative the relays H, Figs. 1 and 2, and resulting in actuating the clocks at the outlying stations shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shunt-wires h and 1&2 may be closed by the direct action of the clock mechanism over the dotted lines ff; but I consider it preferable to employ an electro-magnet in a branch or local-battery circuit, as shown.

Signals sent in by the boxes A (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) are received (announced or recorded) upon the call-bells B B or upon register E, or both. Said call-bells and register are of ordinary well-known construction, but

are adjusted to respond only to variations of the tension of the circuit.

It is contemplated to use in the within-described system a controlling-clock adapted to charge the circuit every minute, although reversals might be made practically every second.

As shown, each line is charged by separate opposed batteries; but several lines can be worked from one opposed battery.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a combined signaling and electric-clock system, the combination of a series of noru'ially-closed electric circuits at a central station common to all of said circuits, a regulating electric clock located at said station, with means, substantially as described, for changing the polarity of the curren's on said circuits, outly ing local stations provided each with a clock in a sub'circuit controlled by a polarized relay, said local station being also provided with signaling mechanism, as described, such that signals are transmitted by change of tension without breaking the continuity of said circuit, and signal-receiving apparatus located in each circuit at the central station which responds to said change of tension, all substantially as described.

2. The combination, with opposed batteries of unequal forces, of several lines charged therefrom, and a controlling electric clock, and of intermediate devices, substantially as described, adapted to reverse the currents upon said several lines simultaneously without interrupting the continuity of said lines, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a normally-closed electric circuit and with district-telegraph signaling appliances, substantially as described, adapted to produce signals by variations in 'the tension of said circuit, of a relay electromagnet, a secondary pile or battery connected in a derived circuit, and means for disconnecting said secondary battery from the main circuit and connecting it through a sub-circuit having a clock connected therein, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES E. BUELL.

Witnesses:

A. (J. BUELL, L. BACON. 

